NEWS CENTER

North
Texas drought conditions and severe water restrictions have prompted The University
of Texas at Arlington to postpone this year’s Oozeball event.

The
Maverick-style mud volleyball tournament had been scheduled to take place on
Friday, Sept. 16, 2011. It will now be held on Friday, April 27, 2012.

“Oozeball
is traditionally held the same weekend every year,” said Lora Malone, executive
director of the UTA Alumni
Association. “We are postponing it because we want to be good stewards of
the environment.”

The University’s
Campus Recreation Department works with the Alumni Association to organize the
event, which benefits the Student Alumni Association Sophomore Scholarship.
Last year, the muddy battle raised nearly $20,000.

Doug
Kuykendall, UT Arlington’s assistant vice president for campus recreation,
called the decision to postpone the event the right move.

“The
decision was reached after lengthy discussion and because we are good neighbors
and we understand what’s happening in the state and around the region,” he
said.

Texas
is experiencing the worst drought in more than half a century. The City of
Arlington has urged residential and non-residential customers to stretch
supplies and limit outdoor watering to no more than twice per week.

Oozeball
began in 1989 and is one of UT Arlington’s most popular campus traditions.

The
University of Texas at Arlington is a comprehensive research institution of nearly
34,000 students in the heart of North Texas. Visit www.uta.edu to learn more.